Chapter 119: After This Battle is Done
New World Entrance, Marine G-1 Branch.
In a dim room, the continuous sound of rustling documents could be heard. An old flag officer, his hair streaked with gray and his face incomparably haggard, was frantically handling the transfer of command for the G-1 branch base.
Just then, the sound of light snoring echoed in the office, clearly reaching the old admiral's ears.
The old admiral fell silent for a moment. Then, the rage in his mind erupted like a volcano.
"KUZAN!!!" The furious roar echoed through the office, making the entire room shake. Countless paper documents were shaken from the cabinets, scattering everywhere.
The loud noise woke the middle-aged man who had been sleeping soundly on the office sofa. He sat up with a yawn, his eyes still drowsy as he stared blankly. After a good while, the tall, thin, curly-haired man known as Kuzan finally woke up properly, looking with a bewildered expression at the old man sitting at the desk.
"Did something happen, senior?"
To this, the old flag officer slammed the desk and roared through gritted teeth, "Who told you you could sleep in my office?!"
Kuzan was taken aback for a moment, then, with dead fish eyes, said lazily, "Senior, I'm an Admiral now. Please give me some face. It wouldn't be good if the soldiers outside heard you!"
To this, the old flag officer glared fiercely at Kuzan. "There are no soldiers watching now. I could beat you up and no one would know!" As he spoke, more documents fluttered down.
This scene made the old admiral's face twitch. He then bent down and silently began to pick them up.
Seeing this, Kuzan maintained his lazy demeanor, yawning as he nonchalantly helped the old admiral clean up. The old man snorted, but the displeasure on his face lessened somewhat.
After they finished tidying up the documents, the old admiral looked at Kuzan, who no longer seemed intent on sleeping. "Is it really okay for you all to be stationed at the entrance to the New World?" he asked with a frown. "What about the first half of the Grand Line?"
To this, Kuzan replied nonchalantly, "Didn't Sakazuki just get transferred back to the first half? He should be enough for over there, right?"
The old admiral heard this and waved his hand. "I'm asking about the Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals. With so many flag officers being transferred to the New World at once, the pressure on the various branches in the first half and the pirate-infested areas must be much higher, right?"
Kuzan, still with that lazy look, replied casually, "Who knows? At least, that's how Fleet Admiral Sengoku arranged it. We flag officers just need to obediently follow the Fleet Admiral's command."
The old admiral knew Kuzan was just brushing him off, but he couldn't find the right words to refute him.
Just then, a Den Den Mushi rang.
Brrring~ Brrring~ Brrring~
Click.
Kuzan picked up the receiver without a change in expression and answered the call. The next moment, the Den Den Mushi mimicked the agent on the other end, reporting with a blank face, "Admiral Aokiji, news has come from Fish-Man Island. Many people have witnessed 'Archangel' Louis and his group leaving."
"I see. I understand," Kuzan replied, his previously listless eyes now serious.
With that, Kuzan slowly hung up the Den Den Mushi, picked up the cape hanging on the sofa, and slowly walked toward the door. As Kuzan walked down the corridor under the respectful gazes of the guards, he headed slowly toward the G-1 military port.
Creak—
Suddenly, a sound came from behind him, causing a strange light to appear in Kuzan's eyes. He slowly turned around. The old man, with his graying hair and haggard face, was slowly putting on his Justice cape and had picked up his weapon, following him.
Seeing this, a strange look appeared in Kuzan's eyes. "Senior," he asked subconsciously, "you're retiring tomorrow. Are you also going to participate in this encirclement mission?"
To this, the old flag officer replied bluntly, "Back when I was fighting pirates in the New World, your master was just a rookie swabbing the decks!"
Kuzan heard this and scratched his head. "I don't think Vice Admiral Garp ever swabbed the decks..."
"Don't you mind that! The point is, I'm going to take this final honor back with me and show it off to my granddaughter!"
Kuzan let out a long sigh. "In that case, do you want to be on the same warship as me?"
The old flag officer let out a laugh. "What, are you worried something will happen to me? You want to protect me?"
"..."
"Relax! My cute granddaughter is still waiting for me to come home! How could I possibly fall in my last battle?"
For some reason, after hearing that, the feeling of unease in Kuzan's heart grew even stronger.
The next second, the old flag officer shamelessly took out a photograph and waved it in front of Kuzan's face. "Look! This is my granddaughter! Isn't she beautiful!" The old admiral's face was full of smiles.
Kuzan glanced at the beautiful and gentle woman in the photo and subconsciously nodded. "She is very beautiful!" He recognized this woman. She was a famous nurse in the Marine Headquarters' medical department, usually gentle and quiet, the dream girl of many soldiers.
The old admiral heard this, patted Kuzan's shoulder, and grinned. "After this mission is over, how about I introduce her to you?"
"I think I'll pass," Kuzan's mouth twitched slightly as he politely declined.
"Tch, you kid." The old flag officer gave Kuzan a "you're missing out" look.
The alarm bell rang throughout the entire branch. The alarm lights, signaling danger, flashed in every corner of G-1. A dense mass of soldiers poured out of the base, running at top speed to their respective warships. One by one, flag officers in various colored suits and Justice capes boarded their ships, immediately giving orders for all soldiers to organize and check their military supplies.
Among them, the figures of several giant Vice Admirals stood out like cranes among chickens. Just standing in the military port, they inspired awe and trepidation.
In front of a massive warship, Kuzan turned his head again to look at this flag officer, whose service time was among the longest in the Marines and who had made illustrious contributions. He spoke again. "Are you sure you don't want to come on my ship?"
To this, the old flag officer glanced at Kuzan and said bluntly, "Get lost!"
Beside him, many soldiers seemed to be used to this scene. After skillfully apologizing on behalf of their superior, they followed the old admiral and boarded the G-1 branch's warship.
Seeing this, Kuzan let out a long sigh. After instructing other soldiers to keep an eye on the old senior's condition, he stepped directly onto one of the two largest warships.
Under Aokiji's command, the warships raised their sails one by one and, against the cold wind, headed for the designated location to set up an ambush.
Aboard the warship with the serial number G1, the white-haired, haggard old flag officer stood at the front of the ship, quietly looking at the photo of his granddaughter in his hand.
"After I'm done with this battle, I'll come back to see you!"
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